When Rick Tocchet played, he was the consummate Flyer. He battled in the corners, could score, and could deliver a hit. He leads the NHL with 18 Gordie Howe hat tricks. He is one of four players, the others being Pat Verbeek, Brendan Shanahan, and Gary Roberts, to have over 400 career goals with over 2,000 penalty minutes. He was tough, but could score. He was almost like a bulldozer on the wing. There is currently a player in the draft that could remind many of Tocchet. His name is Brady Martin.
Martin is a 6'0", 180 lb, 18-year-old who made his mark this year with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL. In 57 games, he scored 33 goals with 39 assists. That is a big jump from the year before, when he scored 10 goals with 18 assists in 52 games.
Some see him as only a reliable third-line center. He is rated the 11th-best skater from North America by NHL Scouting Central. Several mocks have him going anywhere from 12th to 25th in the draft. However, he has an aggressive side to him that has caught the attention of many scouts.
This is not to say that he is a perfect player. He has some flaws in his game that need to be worked on and further developed. He struggles with shooting from farther away.
Scott Wheeler of The Athletic has said:
"He plays hard, he plays in the guts of the ice, his effort level and physicality get among the highest grades in the draft and he stays involved in all three zones, constantly seeming to make things happen and have an impact on shifts and games. He’s strong on his feet and finishing checks."
Toni Ferrari of The Hockey News said:
"He is an excellent forechecker who can crash and bang down low and retrieve pucks. Martin lacks the upper-end puck-transporting ability or dynamic ability to excel as a top-six center, but his physical play, puck-hounding and solid passing from a scrum could make him an excellent fit next to high-skill players who play with a bit more finesse."
The Hockey Writers suggest that:
"His mobility needs to improve to better his offensive game. Sometimes, he seems to skate a bit hunched over, which has limited his ability to get up the ice. He is also not the most dynamic player on the ice, but with his hardworking nature, he can make up for that more times than not.
Defensively, Martin’s energy is felt as well. He is relentless on the backcheck and is strong when playing his position in his end of the ice. His opponents feel his physicality as he is not afraid to throw his weight around when given the chance. As an all-around force on the ice, he has been increasingly talked about as the season progresses."
Martin is intriguing because of his intense level of play. If that energy can be harnessed, he could end up becoming a very fun player to watch. Much like Tocchet became a hero in Philly, Martin possesses some of the things Flyers fans enjoy watching. There's his physicality, his ability to set screens in front of the net, and grab the rebound.
He's not a complete player. However, he could be taught how to improve. Is he worth a sixth pick? No. However, if he were to slip, he would be someone worth the 23rd pick or perhaps a chance to move up. He's got talent. How much of it is the big question. Still, it might be fun to see him donning the orange and black.